Fergie47:
Not a lorry…but…Out for a ride on the bike the other day, came across this beast parked up in a garden, didn’t have a camera so got these off Google street…Don’t know too much about civil aircraft, but my mates seem to think its French… any plane anoraks ?.
It looks similar to the one I posted up back a few pages that belonged to a haulier, well, its got two wings, 4 engines, and a trail,… I’m probably miles out…
Hello Dave Senior
What an interesting find!!
That looks hugely similar to a Lockheed Super Constellation which once was the world’s most advanced and luxurious airliner.
Hugely similar except for the triple-tail design which your one does not seem to have so I am really puzzled.
Here is the full information on this legendary airplane: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Constellation
Interestingly, one of the survivor units was actually flown to Europe from the US I believe in 2004 and fully restored to optimal flying condition, and in summertime is often seen participation in airshows in Sion airport, some 30km from where I live.
The noise produced by those four Pratt&Whitney radon engines is something else.
Here are some pictures of that very plane I took in 2006, parked up in Geneva airport when I still lived near there.
She was known for her huge engine oil consumption (apparently up to 90 litres per hour once they had done a few engine hours). And also the smoky and flame-ridden start-up; check for flame at 00:51
And here is an amateur video (one of the lucky ones who secured a seat) from aboard (good quality and shows all the stages from inside and outside including engine start-up, take-off and cruising flight)
I secretly hope to organise a tour on that plane with my dad for his 73rd next year. He is still fit and healthy now, who knows how long for. So I say carpe diem!
Now the questions of course is whether Fergie’s picture is indeed of a Connie. The big puzzle is the tail which does not match. But I know of no other plane with that Dolphin-like allure.
David, would you mind sharing the exact location of that plane?